Minneapolis marks one year since the North Side tornado

WHAT: Mayor R.T. Rybak, City Council President Barbara Johnson, North Side City Council Members Diane Hofstede and Don Samuels, and Tree Trust will plant a tree in the yard of Jan Carstens, whose husband Rob MacIntyre died in the tornado, to mark the first anniversary of the storm that struck north Minneapolis.

Numerous community organizations and groups will hold their own anniversary events in the coming days (see partial list below). The City encourages everyone to mark one year since the tornado by committing to service in north Minneapolis, or in their own communities. Thousands of volunteers have already helped clean up and rebuild the North Side, and many more helping hands will be needed in the coming months.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 22

WHERE: 2924 Farwell Ave.

MORE: The tornado that struck north Minneapolis damaged 3,700 properties, and Floyd David Whitfield and Rob MacIntyre lost their lives. To commemorate one year since the tornado, City leaders will plant a tree in the yard of Jan Carstens, who lost her husband Rob in the tornado, while asking everyone to make this week a week of service in their communities.

Rob MacIntyre was an avid gardener and an active participant in the community, and he died while trying to help his neighbors clean up from the storm. Since that time, the Rob MacIntyre Fund has been established at Tree Trust, and a $50,000 anonymous donation will go toward planting ornamental flowering trees on private property in north Minneapolis.

In addition to the tree planting, many community groups and organizations will be marking the one-year anniversary of the tornado with their own observances. Several were held last weekend, and other events are planned for May 22. City leaders will be attending a number of these events, including:

Tuesday, May 22 - 2:30 p.m.

Observance and bike ride with students at Lucy Laney School at 3333 Penn Ave. N. Mayor Rybak will join students, staff, families and community members in a peace circle on the school field to release balloons signifying hope, healing and resilience to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the tornado.

The gathering will begin at 2:30 p.m., with a moment of silence at 2:45. At 3 p.m., the mayor will join students on a bike ride from the school to the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center at 2001 Plymouth Ave. N.

Tuesday, May 22 - 3 p.m.

Tornado anniversary event sponsored by Northside Community Response Team runs from 3 to 6 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center at 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. Mayor Rybak will speak at 3:45 p.m. and City Council President Johnson and City Council Members Hofstede and Samuels will also attend.